Re “And I Have Taxing on My Mind, Too”
Once again the City Council was stone cold silent on Monday evening when I asked them to agendize a resolution supporting Prop. 1481, the oil extraction tax to fund education initiative.
California is the only major oil producing state that has no tax on oil extracted. Meanwhile, Alaska's oil extraction tax was raised to 25 percent by Gov. Sarah Palin. An oil extraction tax of only 15 percent would raise $3 billion annually for California Education.
It's so ironic that these Councilmen were so quick to condemn the oil company PXP and would spend over $1.25 million of our taxpayer money to get PXP to reduce the projected 600 drilling wells down to 500 drilling wells.
I am of the opinion that PXP would have easily conceded to drill one hundred fewer wells without lawyering up and having open dialogue.
The City Council eagerly passed a resolution supporting Measure EE, the parcel tax that would bring in $6 million for our schools. Why can't it pass a resolution urging support that could raise $3 billion statewide for our schools.
I will be hounding the Council every week to agendize this resolution.
Why are they afraid to vote on this issue? I urge all readers to contact the Councilmen and put this resolution to a vote.
The Culver City Democratic Club was bold enough to come out and be the first Democratic club in the state to endorse this initiative. It's time our Councilmen followed the lead of the Culver City Democratic Club.
Mr. Zirgulis may be contacted at zirgulisr@yahoo.com
